Committee considers memorial stones, artificial turf as park amenities; staff to research options

Committee members at the May 19 Parks and Recreation meeting discussed two park-amenity items: offering polished, engraved memorial stones as an option for the Garden Park legacy program and using artificial surfacing in select playgrounds.

A committee member identified in the meeting as Grace described a stone memorial she saw on a visit and said the item would suit Garden Park: “It actually looks almost like a river rock that's polished, and then it would be engraved,” she said, adding that the stones are anchored to the ground to prevent removal and offer similar inscription capacity to a brick.

Richard, a parks staff member, replied that the vendors used for the current brick and bench memorial program also sell the polished-stone product and that adding the item to the department’s See My Legacy plan and website “would be an easy addition.” Committee members asked staff to check pricing and to make the option available online.

The group also discussed artificial surfacing. Members reported an artificial-turf installation at Bryant Park that provides a cooler, softer surface than mulch and a poured-in-place rubber surface at Creative Playground that provides accessible surfacing. Committee members said Bryant Park’s turf appeared to be holding up but noted some matting under swings, and staff said they will monitor wear before deciding on wider use. The committee discussed using a similar surface in a new riverside park and lighted music-area designs under consideration.

The meeting record shows no formal vote on adding memorial stones or changing surfacing; staff agreed to research vendors, pricing and website integration and to monitor the performance of existing pilot surfaces before proposing installations for new parks.